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5 Free APIs Every Developer Should Know

Perfect for testing, learning, and prototyping

1. JSONPlaceholder REST

Fake REST API for testing and prototyping. Returns realistic dummy data for posts, comments, users, todos, and more. No API key needed.

https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com
fetch('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/posts/1') .then(res => res.json()) .then(data => console.log(data));
Try it β†’
2. OpenWeather DATA

Weather data for any location worldwide. Current conditions, forecasts, and historical data. Free tier gives 1,000 calls/day.

https://api.openweathermap.org
// Requires free API key fetch(`https://api.openweathermap.org/data/2.5/weather?q=London&appid=YOUR_KEY`) .then(res => res.json()) .then(data => console.log(data.main.temp));
Get API Key β†’
3. Unsplash IMAGES

High-quality stock photos on demand. Search by keyword, get random images, or browse collections. 50 requests/hour free.

https://api.unsplash.com
// Quick random image (no key needed) <img src="https://source.unsplash.com/random/800x600?nature">
Get API Key β†’
4. GitHub API CODE

Access repos, users, commits, issues, and more. Build dev tools, portfolio sites, or contribution trackers. 60 requests/hour without auth.

https://api.github.com
fetch('https://api.github.com/users/octocat') .then(res => res.json()) .then(user => console.log(user.public_repos));
View Docs β†’
5. PokeAPI FUN

All PokΓ©mon data you could ever need. Perfect for learning APIs or building fun projects. No API key required, unlimited requests.

https://pokeapi.co/api/v2
fetch('https://pokeapi.co/api/v2/pokemon/pikachu') .then(res => res.json()) .then(pokemon => console.log(pokemon.types));
Try it β†’
πŸ’‘ Pro Tip

When testing APIs, use your browser's DevTools Network tab to inspect requests and responses. Or try Postman or Insomnia for a dedicated API testing environment.